Method and apparatus for blow and blow production of hollow glass article

ABSTRACT

The method and apparatus for producing a hollow glass article permit removal of a resulting hollow glass article without severing a moll. By this, glass powder which would otherwise be caused and fallen into the hollow glass article during severing the moil may prevented. The invention also permits elimination of a means for positioning a respective blow head and for stopping rotation thereof. A quantity of molten glass of a disk-shaped configuration is supplied onto a support ring. Each blow head is lowered onto a corresponding support ring. The molten glass on the support ring is held by the blow head by its periphery. Then, the support ring is removed or withdrawn. A quantity of air is blown into the molten glass by means of the blow head so as to form a hollow glass article. Subsequently, the holding ability of the blow head is eliminated, so as to remove or unload the resulting hollow glass article. Alternatively, the support rings may be omitted.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for producing ahollow glass article, such as, a bulb for an electric lamp, a glassshell for a mercury lamp, vessels for physics and chemical purpose,e.g., beakers or flasks, tableware, e.g., tumblers or teapots, and innerglass-bins for vacuum bottles.

2. Prior Art

Conventionally, when a hollow glass article is produced using a blowingmachine, a predetermined volume of molten glass, intermittently suppliedfrom a feeder disposed adjacent to a glass melting furnace, is formedinto a disk-shaped configuration. The molten glass of a disk-shapedconfiguration is sequentially supplied onto a plurality of support ringsequidistantly disposed around a turn table of a blowing machine. Eachsupport ring is rotated so as to cause a portion of the molten glass tohang down through a circular hole in the support ring. The molten glassis then introduced into a mold. A quantity of air is blown into themolten glass in the mold from a blow head, so as to produce a hollowglass article of a desired configuration. The thus resulting hollowglass article is connected with an annular moil on the support ringwhich has been stopped at a predetermined rotational position. Thus, itis necessary to sever the moil in order to remove or unload theresultant hollow glass article.

With the prior art method for producing a hollow glass article, aquantity of glass powder is produced during severing the moil. Suchglass powder tends to be fallen into inside of the hollow glass articlejust after a blow molding operation. This needs washing or cleaningoperation at a subsequent stage. In some cases, the glass powder is meltand adhered to the hollow glass article, so as to cause unacceptablearticle. A device for rotating a support ring of a considerable weightand for accurately positioning it at its rotational position is alsorequired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Under the circumstances, it is an object of the invention to provide amethod and an apparatus for producing a hollow glass article whichpermits removal of the hollow glass article without severing a moil,which prevents occurrence of glass powder which might be otherwisecaused during severing the moil, and which may obviate a particulardevice for positioning the blow head and for stooping it at a rotationalposition.

In order to achieve the above object, the first method for producing ahollow glass article comprises the steps of: supplying a quantity ofmolten glass of a disk-shaped configuration onto a support ring;lowering a blow head toward the support ring so as to permit thequantity of molten glass on the support ring to be held by its peripheryby means of the blow head; withdrawing the support ring from the blowhead when the quantity of molten glass has been held by the blow head;supplying a quantity of air into the molten glass from the blow head, soas to form a hollow glass article by means of a blow-molding operation;and eliminating the holding ability of the blow head relative to thehollow glass article so as to remove the hollow glass article from theblow head.

The second method according to the invention comprises the steps of:supplying a quantity of molten glass of a disk-shaped configuration to aposition below a blow head; lowering the blow head so as to permit thequantity of molten glass to be held by its periphery by means of theblow head; supplying a quantity of air into the molten glass from theblow head, so as to form a hollow glass article by means of ablow-molding operation; and eliminating the holding ability of the blowhead relative to the hollow glass article so as to remove the hollowglass article from the blow head.

A first apparatus of the invention comprises a plurality of supportrings equidistantly disposed around a turn table for receiving aquantity of molten glass formed into a disk-shaped configuration, thesupport rings being adapted to be withdrawn by means of a withdrawingmeans; and a plurality of blow heads disposed around the turn table at aposition above and in opposed relationship with corresponding supportrings for vertical movement, each of the blow heads being adapted tohold the molten glass of a disk-shaped configuration, having beensupplied onto a corresponding support ring, by its periphery through aholding means. The first apparatus of the invention is directly used inthe practice of the first method of the invention.

A second apparatus comprises a plurality of blow heads disposed around aturn table for vertical movement, each of the blow head being adapted toreceive a quantity of molten glass formed into a disk-shapedconfiguration by a lower gob molding member and to hold it by itsperiphery through a holding means. The second apparatus of the inventionis directly used in the practice of the second method of the invention.

According to the first method of the invention, the molten glass of adisk-shaped configuration is once supplied onto the support ring. Then,the molten glass on the support ring is held by the blow head and thesupport ring is withdrawn or removed, so as to perform a blow moldingoperation. Thus, it is possible for the hollow glass article having beenblow-molded to be removed or unloaded by eliminating the holding abilityof the blow head, without severing or cutting the moil integral with thehollow glass article.

According to the second method of the invention, the support ring usedin the first method is obviated. The molten glass of a disk-shapedconfiguration is directly supplied to a position below the blow head,and held by the blow head, so as to perform a blow molding operation.Thus, it is also possible for the hollow glass article having beenblow-molded to be removed or unloaded by eliminating the holding abilityof the blow head, without severing or cutting the moil integral with thehollow glass article.

In accordance with the first apparatus of the invention, the supportring may be removed or withdrawn by means of the withdrawing meansduring blow molding operation. Furthermore, the blow head is providedwith a means for holding the molten glass of a disk-shaped configurationby its periphery. Thus, it is unnecessary for the moil to be severed orcut during removal of the hollow glass article. Accordingly, the firstapparatus facilitates practice of the first method of the invention.

In accordance with the second apparatus of the invention, the moltenglass of a disk-shaped configuration may be directly transferred ontothe blow head from the lower gob molding member and held thereon. Thiscontributes simplification of the apparatus. Furthermore, it isunnecessary for the moil to be severed or cut during removal of thehollow glass article. Accordingly, the second apparatus facilitatespractice of the second method of the invention.

According to the invention of Claim 1, the hollow glass article havingbeen blow-molded may be removed or unloaded without cutting or severingthe moil. Thus, generation of glass powder which otherwise tends to bedirected into inside of the hollow glass article may be entirelyprevented.

According to the invention of Claim 2, the advantage similar to that ofthe invention of Claim 1 may be obtained, notwithstanding the fact thatthe support ring is obviated.

According to the invention of Claim 3, the invention of Claim 1 may beeasily carried out.

According to the invention of Claim 4, the invention of Claim 2 may beeasily carried out, with the blowing machine being entirely simplified.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an illustrative view showing a sequential process of a firstmethod according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is an illustrative view showing a sequential process of a secondmethod according to the invention; and

FIG. 3(A) is a side elevational view, in section, of a main part of oneexample of a blow head to be used in the method according to theinvention, and

FIG. 3(B) is a plan view of one example of a support ring to be used inthe first method according to invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

With reference to FIG. 1 showing a sequential process of a first methodaccording to the invention, reference numeral 1 designates a feederdisposed adjacent to a glass melting furnace, 2 and 3 a verticallymovable plunger and a rotatable tube disposed at an outlet port of thefeeder 1 for controlling a quantity of molten glass 4 to be supplied.Reference numeral 5 designates a cutting blade for cutting a quantity ofmolten glass 4 supplied from the feeder 1 into a lump of molten glass(referred to as a "gob 4a" hereinbelow) of a predetermined volume, 6 agob chute, 7 a lower gob molding member, 8 a gob stopper, and 9 an uppergob molding member. The gob 4a supplied into the lower gob moldingmember 7 is urged against the upper gob molding member 9 by reason ofthe upward movement of the lower mold 7, and molded into a disk-shapedmolten glass (referred to as a "paddy 4b", hereinbelow). The upper gobmolding member 9, in accordance with a first method of the invention, iscapable of holding the paddy 4b, having been molded into a disk-shapedconfiguration, by means of a holding means, for example, of a vacuumadhesion type. Thus, the lower gob molding member 7 may be returned tothe original, lowered position in preparation for a supply of the nextgob 4a. The upper gob molding member 9 is then rotated for cancellation,of a vacuum force applied to the paddy, so as to transfer or supply thepaddy 4b onto a support ring 10. Then, the upper gob molding member 9 isrotated and returned to the original position above the lower gobmolding member 7 in preparation for molding the next paddy.

In practice, a plural pairs of vertically oppositely opposed supportring 10 and blow head 11 are disposed equidistantly around a turn table12 of a blowing machine (see FIG. 3). When the paddy 4b is supplied ontothe support ring 10, the blow head 11 is lowered so as to hold the paddy4b by its periphery on the support ring 10 by means of a vacuum adhesionforce, for example. Then, the support ring 10 is displaced from theposition below the blow head 11, by means of a withdrawing means foropening, pivoting downwadly, or moving rearwardly the support ring 10.In this regard, it is noted that, when the support ring 10 is moved orwithdrawn rearwardly, the blow head 11 is once moved upwardly or raised,and then the support ring 10 is withdrawn, with the paddy 4b being heldin a raised position. Thereafter, the blow head 11 is returned to thelowered position.

When the support ring 10 has been removed or withdrawn, the blow head 11is rotated so as to cause the paddy 4b to hang down due to its weight.If desired, the paddy 4b may be formed into an intermediate articlecalled a "parison 4c" by blowing a quantity of air into the paddy 4bfrom the blow head 11 by which the paddy 4b is held. Subsequently, apair of mold halves 13, 13 are closed. Then, a blow molding operation isperformed by supplying a quantity of air into the paddy 4b or parison4c, so as to form it into a hollow glass article 4d. When the blowmolding operation has been completed, the mold halves 13, 13 are openedand the rotation of the blow head 11 is stopped. Then, the resultinghollow glass article 4d is released from the blow head. Thus, the hollowglass article 4d integral with a moil 4e may be removed by means of achuck pawl 14 or chute for removing the hollow glass article 4d. Then,the blow head 11 is returned to the raised position, while the supportring 10 is returned to its original position in preparation for the nextsupply of a paddy 4b. The above procedures will be repeatedly performedin order to continuously produce hollow glass articles.

FIG. 2 is an illustrative view showing a sequential process of a secondmethod according to the invention. It is to be noted that, in FIG. 2,like components similar to those in FIG. 1 are designated by likereference numerals and thus explanation therefor will be omitted in thefollowing description. In accordance with the second method of theinvention, the lower gob molding member 7a receives a gob 4a from thegob chute 6. The gob 4a is formed into a paddy 4b by reason of thedownward movement of the upper gob molding member 9a. The lower gobmolding member 7a is pivoted so as to place the paddy 4b at a positionbelow the blow head 11. Then, the blow head 11 is lowered so as to holdthereon the paddy 4b, without using the support ring 10, in a mannersimilar to that in the aforementioned first method. In this case, theblow head 11 is once raised to an upper position when the paddy 4b onthe lower gob molding member 7a has been held by the blow head, and thenreturned again to the lowered position when the lower gob molding member7a has been pivoted to its original position. In this connection, it isto be noted that the lower gob molding member 7a, rather than the blowhead 11, may be moved in the vertical direction. When the lower gobmolding member 7a has been pivoted to its original position, the blowhead 11 is rotated so as to cause the paddy 4b to hang down due to itsweight. If desired, the paddy 4b may be formed into a "parison 4c" byblowing a quantity of air into the paddy 4b from the blow head 11 bywhich the paddy 4b is held. Subsequently, the pair of mold halves 13, 13are closed. Then, a blow molding operation is performed by supplying aquantity of air into the paddy 4b or parison 4c, so as to form it into ahollow glass article 4d. When the blow molding operation has beencompleted, the mold halves 13, 13 are opened and the rotation of theblow head 11 is stopped. Then, the resulting hollow glass article 4d isreleased from the blow head. Thus, the hollow glass article 4d integralwith a moil 4e may be removed by means of a chuck pawl 14 or chute forremoving the hollow glass article 4d. Then, the blow head 11 is returnedto the raised position in preparation for the next supply of a paddy 4b.The above procedures will be repeatedly performed in order tocontinuously produce hollow glass articles.

The vacuum adhesion mechanism mentioned above may be constructed asshown in FIG. 3(A). Specifically, the disk-shaped blow head 11 includesan outlet port 11a for air-blowing centrally located in its lowersurface. The blow head 11 is also provided with an annular recess 11bextending in the periphery of the lower surface thereof. The annularrecess 11b has, in its bottom surface, a plurality of suction ports 11c.Vacuum force is applied to the peripheral portion of the paddy 4bthrough the suction ports 11c, so that the paddy 4b is held by the blowhead 11 by means of the vacuum adhesion force. The blow head 11 isslidably secured to a slide shaft 11d at its lower end. The slide shaft11d includes, at its upper portion, a slidable piston (not shown). Theslidable piston is received within each cylindrical body lie forslidable movement in the vertical direction. The cylindrical bodies 11eare equidistantly disposed around the turn table 12 of the blowingmachine. The turn table 12 is rotatably and continuously driven by adrive means (not shown) of the blowing machine at a predetermined speed.The slide shaft 11d is disposed within a rotatable sleeve 11f forslidable movement in the vertical direction. The slide shaft 11d is alsoadapted to be rotated in unison with the rotatable sleeve 11f. Therotatable sleeve 11f is supported within the cylindrical body 11ethrough a bearing 11g so as to be rotatable but not displaceable in thevertical direction within the cylindrical body 11e. A chainwheel 11h issecured to the rotatable sleeve 11f at its lower end. Rotationalmovement of the rotatable sleeve 11f may be transmitted through thechainwheel 11h to the blow head 11 during blowing operation. This causesa wall thickness of a hollow glass article to be formed to becomeuniform in its entirety. A blow pipe 11j extends through the centralportion of the slide shaft 11d. The blow pipe 11j is in communicationwith a blow-air supply through a rotary joint 11k disposed at the upperend of the blow pipe 11j. An annular vacuum passage 11m is defined asbetween the outer periphery of the blow pipe 11j and the inner peripheryof the slide shaft 11d. The vacuum passage 11m is in communication, atits lower end, with the suction ports 11c disposed circumferentially inthe lower surface of the blow head 11. The upper end of the vacuumpassage 11m is in communication with a vacuum source through a rotaryjoint 11n which is disposed at a position slightly below the upper endof the slide shaft 11d. Due to the above construction, the blow head 11is capable of holding thereon the paddy 4b by its periphery by means ofa vacuum adhesion force. The blow head 11 is also capable of shuttingdown the vacuum force while applying atmospheric pressure or compressedair, so as to release therefrom the hollow glass article 4d, when thehollow glass article 4d has been formed. In this connection, it is to benoted that such change-over operation between vacuum pressure and theatmospheric pressure (or compressed air) may be performed using achange-over valve, for example.

When a mechanical chuck is used in order to hold the hollow glassarticle, a plurality of holding pawls of an arcuate configuration areprovided around the blow head 11. The holding pawls are directed, attheir one ends, toward the center of the blow head so that they areopened or closed relative to one another. When the holding pawls areclosed, they scoop the periphery of the paddy 4b in the upwarddirection, so as to hold it at its substantially entire circumferencebetween the lower surface of the blow head 11 and the upper surface ofthe holding pawls.

As mentioned above, the blow head 11 to be used in the first and secondmethod according to the invention is provided with a means for holdingthe disk-shaped paddy 4b by its periphery. Such holding means may be ofthe vacuum adhesion mechanism, mechanical chuck type or combinationthereof.

A construction of the means for withdrawing the support ring 10 to beused in the first method according to the invention will be explained indetail below. With reference to FIG. 3(A) and FIG. 3(B), the supportring 10 is disposed in opposed relationship with the blow head 11. Thesupport ring 10 is attached to the turn table 12 of the blowing machinefor open-close movement. The turn table 12 is provided with a pivotshaft 10a depending therefrom for permitting open-close movement of thesupport ring 10. The support ring 10 divided into two halves of asubstantially semi-circular configuration. Each of the two halvesforming the support ring 10 is, at its base portion 10b or 10c,pivotably connected to the pivot shaft 10a for permitting open-closemovement of the support ring 10. Thus, the support ring 10 may be openedand closed by an air cylinder 10d mounted on the turn table 12 throughconnection links 10e, 10e at the above-mentioned appropriate timing. InFIG. 3(A), one of the molds 13 is shown to be disposed below the supportring 10.

The support ring 10 may be formed as an integral member of an annularconfiguration, rather than the above mentioned two halves. In such acase, the support ring 10 may be configured to be pivoted downwardly orto be moved horizontally toward the center of the turn table 12, for thepurpose of withdrawal movement thereof. When the support ring 10 isconfigured to be moved horizontally toward the center of the turn table12, it may be directly moved in the horizontal direction toward theright in FIG. 3(A), for example, by an air cylinder.

The invention is constructed as mentioned above. Now, general operationaccording to the invention will be briefly explained below. The blowingmachine is provided, around the turn table 12, with a section forsupplying a paddy, a section for performing blow molding, and a sectionfor removing or unloading a resulting article or product. Hollow glassarticles are continuously produced through the above sections. Inaccordance with the first method of the invention, the support ring 10is only used in the section for supplying a paddy. The support ring 10is withdrawn or removed in the section for blow molding and the sectionfor unloading a resulting article. Thus, the article or product may betaken-out or removed without cutting the moil 4e. The moil 4e will becut or severed in subsequent stage by means of an apparatus separatefrom the blowing machine. At that stage, the moil 4e may be easilysevered without restricting from the various mechanisms of the blowingmachine. Thus, occurrence of glass dust or glass powder may be easilyprevented. In accordance with the second method of the invention, thesupport ring 10 is no used at all. Thus, it is possible for the productto be removed or unloaded without severing the moil 4e. In such a case,the blowing machine may be further simplified in its entireconstruction.

I claim:
 1. A method of producing a hollow glass article in ablow-and-blow process, comprising the steps of:supplying a quantity ofmolten glass of a disk-shaped configuration onto a support ring;lowering a blow head toward the support ring so as to permit thequantity of molten glass on the support ring to be held by its peripheryby means of the blow head; withdrawing the support ring from the blowhead when the quantity of molten glass has been held by the blow head;forming a parison from the quantity of molten glass; blow-molding theparison by supplying a quantity of air into the parison from the blowhead while the parison is located in a blow mold, so as to form a hollowglass article; and eliminating the holding ability of the blow headrelative to the hollow glass article so as to remove the hollow glassarticle from the blow head.
 2. A method of producing a hollow glassarticle in a blow-and-blow process, comprising the steps of:supplying aquantity of molten glass of a disk-shaped configuration to a positionbelow a blow head; lowering the blow head so as to permit the quantityof molten glass to be held by its periphery by means of the blow head;forming a parison from the quantity of molten glass; blow-molding theparison by supplying a quantity of air into the parison from the blowhead while the parison is located in a blow mold, so as to form a hollowglass article; and eliminating the holding ability of the blow headrelative to the hollow glass article so as to remove the hollow glassarticle from the blow head.
 3. An apparatus for producing a hollow glassarticle in a blow-and-blow process, wherein a quantity of molten glassformed into a disk-shaped configuration is formed into a parison, andthe parison is blow-molded by supplying a quantity of air into theparison while the parison is located in a blow mold, so as to form thehollow glass article, the apparatus comprising:a plurality of supportrings equidistantly disposed around a turn table for receiving thequantity of molten glass, and a plurality of blow heads disposed aroundthe turn table at a position above and in opposed vertical relationshipwith corresponding support rings, wherein each of the blow headscomprises holding means for holding the quantity of molten glass by itsperiphery and blowing means for blowing the hollow glass article fromthe held quantity of molten glass, wherein the support rings are adaptedto be withdrawn by withdrawing means when the quantity of molten glasshas been held by the holding means.
 4. An apparatus for producing ahollow glass article in a blow-and-blow process, wherein a quantity ofmolten glass formed into a disk-shaped configuration is formed into aparison, and the parison is blow-molded by supplying a quantity of airinto the parison while the parison is located in a blow mold, so as toform the hollow glass article, the apparatus comprising a plurality ofblow heads vertically disposed around a turn table, wherein each of theblow heads is adapted to receive the quantity of molten glass and eachof the blow heads comprises holding means for holding the quantity ofmolten glass by its periphery and blowing means for blowing the hollowglass article from the held quantity of molten glass.
 5. The apparatusof claim 3, wherein the holding means is a vacuum adhesion mechanism. 6.The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the holding means is a vacuum adhesionmechanism.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the blow head comprises avacuum adhesion mechanism, and wherein the quantity of molten glass onthe support ring is held by its periphery by the vacuum adhesionmechanism.
 8. The method of claim 2, wherein the blow head comprises avacuum adhesion mechanism, and wherein the quantity of molten glass onthe support ring is held by its periphery by the vacuum adhesionmechanism.